A NUMBER OF countries in the Leeward Islands are now under a tropic storm watch as the centre of Hurricane Danny is expected to approach the region late Sunday night or Monday morning.
In its 11 a.m. update, the National Hurricane Center said a watch has been issued for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten.
Danny is expected to produce two to four inches of rain over the Leeward Islands through Monday.
At 11 a.m. the centre of the hurricane was located near latitude 15.4 degrees north, longitude 52.0 degrees west.
Danny is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph (19 km/h).
A turn toward the west and an increase in forward speed are expected later today or tonight.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 90 mph (150 km/h) with higher gusts.
Additional weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Danny is expected to weaken below hurricane strength as it approaches the Leeward Islands.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the centre and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km).
US Air Force Reserve and NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft are scheduled to investigate Danny this afternoon. (NB)